Quelling Radio's Quacks: The FCC's First Public-Interest Programming Campaign

Abstract

In 1935, the Federal Communications Commission launched its first campaign to ensure that broadcasters programmed in the public interest. The FCC's law department ran the campaign, focusing on the elimination of fraudulent medical radio advertising. Eighteen stations underwent hearings for airing such advertising, most often for one or more of seven particularly egregious firms; one station lost its license. The campaign, which took place during a protracted congressional battle over tougher controls for medicine and cosmetics, alarmed broadcasters and advertisers, involved other government departments, and was shut down after eight months.¹